Rotary granulating machine



May 26, 1953 l.. BURN Erm. 2,639,747

ROTARY GRANULATING MACHINE Filed April 18, 1949 l 4 sheets-sheet 2 ATTORNEYS May 26, 1953 BURN ETAL 2,639,747

ROTARY GRANULATING MACHINE Filed April 18', 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 l I I l INVENTORS ATTORNEYS May 26, 1953 L. BURN ETAL 2,639,747

ROTARY GRANULATING MACHINE l Filed April 18, 1949 4 sheets-sheet 4 vmkm ATTORN E?? Patented May 26, 1953 ROTARY GRANULATING MACHINE England, Horace Todd, Holywell, Wales, and John Oliver, Coventry,

Lewis Burn, London,

England Application April 18, 1949, Serial No. 88,207 In Great Britain April 15, 1948 (Cl. 14S-175) 3 Claims. l

This invention relates to improvements in rotary granulating machines and nds particular application in the breaking down, from a large size to a smaller size, of materials of frail cohesion, such as coagulated crystals, pharmaceutical preparations, aggregated amorphousmatter, solidliquid mixtures such as viscose, food materials and the like, and is of the type wherein the material is fed to a rigid perforated entity, the said material being engaged by a rotary device or devices arranged in stages above said perforate rigid member or members.

The object of the present invention is to provide a granulating machine, the interior of which is readily accessible for adjustment, cleaning or replacement of the arrangements which determine the particle or granule size of the material treated.

A further object of the invention is to arrange for the rotary part of the said granulator to be located by bearings disposed external to and above the granulating compartment so as to avoid obstructing the passage of material during treatment and to provide an open base for the rapid ejection of treated granulated matter to a conveyor or suitable container.

According to the invention the improved granulating machine comprises in combination; a cylindrical vertically divided shell, one side of said shell being hingedly mobile and securable to a static side, a depending rotary power shaft driven by overhead gear mounted axially of said shell, the internal face of said shell being peripherally stepped to hold removable graduated sieve plates, each of said sieve plates resting on a removable support grill, said sieve plates being arranged in a series of tiers in a plane horizontal to the vertical axis and adapted to co-operate with a series of granulating arms fast with the axial shaft and adapted to rotate said series of sieve plates to granulate solid or semi-solid matter from a large particle size to a smaller particle size.

In order that the invention will be more readily understood preferred embodiments thereof will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a vertical elevation partly in section of a preferred arrangement of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional -view on the line II-II of Figure 1 as viewed from below.

Fig, 3 is a plan View of the granulating compartment of an alternative embodiment of the apparatus according to the invention, and

Fig. 4 is a vertical part-sectional elevation of the apparatus shown in Figure 3.

In carrying the invention into effect and @Q cording to a preferred form thereof as shown in Figures 1 and 2, the granulating apparatus is housed within a vertically disposed cylindrical shell I and consists in a series kof perforate sieve plates 2 mounted in spaced relationship transversely of thev said shell l, a rotary bladed member 3 being provided above each iof said 'sieve plates 2 and having a seriesof radially extending granulating arms 4-which skim the upper face thereof so as to thrust the material to be treated through the periorations of the said sieve plates. The uppermost end of the shell I is flanged as at 5 to support and locate a cover plate 6 Whilst the lower end thereof is open as at l to provide for the outlet lof the granulated material after treatment. The said material prior to treatment is introduced to the granulating machine through the opening 8 and is thereafter treated in progressive stages until, having reached the required granule or particle size, it is discharged through the open base 1 of the machine to a conveyor or suitable container (not shown). In order to provide for such progressive granulation of the material the perforations formed in the sieve plates 2 are graduated in size, the nal stage, that is to say, the lowermost sieve plate, having the smallest perforations.

The perforate sieve plates 2 are each adapted to seat at their periphery upon an annular ring member 9 located within a recess I0 formed peripherally within the internal face of the shell I. This ring member 9, in addition to providing pcripheral support for the said sieve plate, is formed with an inwardly extending flange I I upon which rests a support grill consisting of intersecting bearer rods I2, these latter serving to lend rigidity and support to the sieve plate 2 over its whole area. An annular bush I3 is provided centrally of each co-operating pair of sieve plates and support grills, the said bush having a central aperture of such dimensions as to permit the passage of a central rotary shaft I4 which depends into the granulating compartment through the cover plate 6 and upon which is secured at intervals there along the said rotary bladed members 3.

In orderr to provide easy access to the interior of the shell I, the curved wall of this latter is diametrically divided, the one half thereof` which constitutes a semicylindrical door Ia being capable of opening on a pair of hinges I6 (one of which is shown in Figure 2). The sieve plates '.2, ringy members 9 and support grills consisting of bearer rods I2 are each formed in tWo separate partsbeing divided diametrically so as to permit their removal when the said semi-cylindrical door Ia is open. The screw-threaded bolts 2t disposed in the curved wall of the shell I adjacent the peripheral recesses I serve to engage and lock the said support ring members 9 in position when the door la is closed so as to prevent rotation of these members and the sieve plates 2 within the said recesses under the action of said rotary granulating arms 4. Wing members II projecting outwardly from the curved wall of the shell I and from the semi-cylindrical door Ia at the points of vertical division of these two parts are adapted to be clamped together .by bolts or like securing means I8 when the said door is in its closed position.

Each said rotary bladed r`mem-ber 3 mounted upon the dependent shaft I4 comprises inter alia a dismountable diametrically divided boss .2l keyed to the said shaft I 4 as at 22. ".Ihe two semicylindrical parts of this boss are adapted, on assembly, to seat within the reduced portions '23 of the shaft and are clamped to and located upon the said shaft between -bevelled `faces of securing rings 24 and 25. 'The bevelled securing rings .24, which abut the upper bevelled edge of the divided boss 2i of each rotary vbladed member .3, yare also diametrically split to permit their removal or adjustment and are coupled and tightened around the said .shaft I4 .by ltangentiallv disposed threaded bolts .26. Locknuts 21 in-screw-threaded engagement upon Ythe 'shaft I4 .servefto retain the securing rings '24 in position. The securing rings 25, on the other hand, whose Vbevelled edges abut the lowerb'evelled edge of the divided boss 2| are 'preferably screw-threaded to the shaft I4 and are retained in position by a split ring .member 28 provided with at least 'one clamping -bolt 29 by which it is tightened to the Isaid shaft.

The divided `boss 2l is formed with radially extending lugs 30 to which the said granulating .arms -4 are secured by bolts or like securing means 3l. In order to provideifor the necessary wedging action during the rotation of these arms so as to exert a certain .pressureuponfthe material 'to be treated and force the Vlatter Athroug-h the perforations of the sieve 'platesL the forward edge of each .granulating arm :is :tilted upwards away from its .co-operating sieve plate whilst the trailing edge thereof skims with slight clearance the upper surface'of the said sieve plate.

It will vbe understood that there is a great divergence between the physical lqualities of the materials which require granulation for commercial use. Thus the manufacture of 'bread or rusk crumbs of graded size isa totally different proposition from the manufacture Aof uniform crystalline granules of bath salts, and leach requires a separate setting of the granulating arms in relation to the perforated plates. The means provided by the present invention for permitting adjustment of the position'of the granulating arms relative to that of the sieve plates 'consist in the securing rings 24 and 25 retained respectively by lock-nuts 2l and split ring clamping members 28.

The angled granulating arms which are radial to the shaft bosses `2l may be of varied section or design lfor special purposes, thus several may be of razspreading Aor smearing type, `whilst one may Ibe of brush, Iscraper or 'like character to ensure clearance of 'the friable material passing downward through the sieve plate perforations.

'In lorder to avoid obstructions to the ejection of the granulated particles from the machine such as a spider member carrying a y'foot-step bearing for the rotary shaft 14, the latter is carried by -thrust-bearings vmounted in a structure disposed -above the shell LI of 'thegranulator` AS shown by way of example in Figure 1, the vertical shaft I4 is mounted in bearings 35 and 36, the former being located within a projection 31 of a gear housing 3B whilst the latter is mounted in a lower housing 39 which is bolted upon the cover plate 6 and flange 5 of the shell I. A stuifin'g box 4I) dis-posed centrally within the cover plate 6 of the granulating compartment and around the rotary shaft I4 prevents leakage of -iubricant and the like from the gear box and bearings into the said granulating compartment.

illustrated the drive to the vertical rotary shaft .I 4 vis preferably delivered from a horizontal take-off shai'tlrI through a bevelled gear 42. The take-olf shaft 4I is preferably electrically driven, suitable means being provided on the electric motor (not shown) for delivering a variable The whole apparatus as shown in Figure 1 may be supported conveniently .upon structural frame Work as shown at 4.3 b y the extended flanges 44 and 45 .on the gear housing '38 and 'lower .housing respcctively.

In .Figures 3 .and 4;, which illustrate an -alternative form of construction with the granulating machine .according tothe invention, like .component parts -to those .employed in the embodiment illustrated .in Figures l .and 2 vhave been denoted by :like reference numerals.

This form of construction .indicates van alternative method of locating the sieve plates Z,.sup port ring :members 9 and bearer rods .12, within the .cylindrical shell 1I these removable parts ,being seated .upon vperipheral steps ..50 formed on the inner face of .theshell When the-semi-.cylindrical door va Vof `the shell has been .closed 1and secured the bolts 20 are tightened to locate the said support ring imembers and .prevent their rotation.

Also according -to this form of .construction the rotary bladed members Vare `formed with ya dismountable idiametrically .divided boss 5I .keyed to the rotary shaft I4 -as at 52. Lugs 53 extending radially outwards from this bosssupport .thefgranulating arms 4 secured .by bolts 54. Adjustable screw-threaded locking rings '55 are provided below and above .the said di-vided boss -'5I Ito -permit fadjustmentfof theposition of the latter along the shaft .I4 and relative .to the sieve Vplates 2. Bolts 56 are .provided for yclamping ltogether the divided parts `of the boss 5I `'and securing these to the shaft I4 `with the desired clearance between the trailing edge of the .granulating farms and the sieve plates 2.

Either embodiment ofthe apparatus described above may -be used Lin cascade, thus the outlet of the .first machine may be fed to Va second, and the @product .of the rlaer'fed to a further granulator. Equally, the feed yand granulating -machine may constitute :a closed circuit to volatile material retained in the friabl'e raw material mass, the'feed being delivered by any known type of starwheel or -multi-:bladed feeder.

.By vthe means ldescribed .above granulation of any friable material can be accomplished with an .exact sieve size for the particles required. The apparatus will operate with dry material, powders and paste, the adjustments enabling the operator to control the .grading of granulation as maybe required. By vadjusting the height of the granulating arms above the sieve plates, a granulation is obtained that `is equal to the plate perforations, and a ylength of extension 'of material through the plate is obtainable depending. Within limits, upon the height of the granulating arms above the plates. Therefore, by adjusting the height of the granulating arms, a change in the volumetric factor of the granules is accomplished. If volatile substances be present in the raw material, heat in any convenient form may be applied to one or more stages and the top of the granulator shell may be provided with a vapour collector and condensing apparatus.

We claim:

1. A granulating machine having an operating shaft, a sieve associated therewith, said shaft having a reduced portion, a bush of less length than and surrounding the reduced portion, said bush having granulating arms rotatable above and co-actng with the surface of said sieve, and means screw-threaded to said shaft engaging said bush above and below and operable to adjust the position of the bush and arms axially along said shaft to vary the height of said arms above the surface of said sieve.

2. A granulating machine having an operating shaft, a sieve plate having an opening through which said shaft passes, said shaft having a reduced portion, a bush of less length than and surrounding the reduced portion of said shaft and extending through said opening in the sieve plate, said bush having granulating arms rotatable above and co-acting with the surface of said sieve plate, and screw means on the shaft above and below said sieve plate engaging the opposite ends of said bush and operable to adjust the position of the bush and arms axially along the shaft to vary the height of said arms with respect `to the surface of the sieve plate.

3. A granulating machine having an operating shaft, a sieve plate through which said shaft passes having a reduced portion, a bush of less length than and surrounding said reduced portion of the shaft, said bush having a bore of substantially the same diameter as said reduced portion of the shaft and having granulating arms thereon rotatable above the sieve plate, split rings around said shaft, one at each end of said bush, said split rings and bush engaging along beveled surfaces, and nuts threaded on said shaft and engaging the respective rings, the structure enabling adjustment of the bush and amns axially along the shaft to vary and x the height of the granulating arms above the surface of the sieve plate.

LEWIS BURN. HORACE TODD'. JOHN OLIVER.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 482,576 Ingram Sept. 13, 1892 482,982 Patroli Sept. 20, 1892 600,575 Cross Mar. 15, 1898 '779,031 Drake Jan. 3, 1905 1,953,266 Russell Apr. 3, 1934 2,344,611 Harris Mar. 21, 1944 

